Landscape Architect for Active Environments Lead

Overview

1.   Role summary

Reporting to: Head of Programme , Changing Sports

Salary: c £32,000 to £40,000 FTE, dependent on experience

Hours: 3 – 4 days a week depending on experience

2.   Role purpose

Summary

Access Sport has an exciting opportunity to appoint a suitably qualified landscape architect to its growing team.

The new Active Environments Lead will be responsible for initially delivering at least 2 new and 8 enhanced community sport facilities across the UK by 2026 with significant potential for more. The role will lead every step of the process to identify, design and deliver quality community sport facilities for the benefit of disadvantaged and disabled children and young people. The role will lead on the growth of our facilities work, including developing opportunities with new sports.

Responsibilities

• Site Analysis: Conduct site visits and undertake desk-top studies to gather information about existing conditions and other relevant information to inform the planning approval and design process.
• Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Seek out and consider the views of local residents, potential users, and parties with a vested interest in the project. Produce necessary consultation material.
• Design Development: Using computer-aided design, CAD, packages or similar design software, create detailed designs from concept to construction documentation, construction details and specifications for the projects.
• Cost plan: Produce indicative cost plans to inform fundraising efforts.
• Planning: Submit and lead applications for planning permission on behalf of clients, typically local authorities.Tender and procurement: Work with clients to put projects out to tender and select a contractor.
• Contract management, if chartered: On behalf of the client, carry out site visits, ensure deadlines are met, liaise with partners, monitor and check progress on site and authorise payment once work has been completed in accordance with the contract.
• Research: Stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and sustainable practices to contribute to innovative design solutions.
• Client Interaction: Support client meetings and presentations, conveying design concepts and solutions effectively.
• Compliance: Familiarise yourself with local plans, regulations and guidelines to ensure designs align with legal requirements.
• Manage design risks and comply with the requirements of CDM 2015 and any other applicable legislation.
• Programme Management: managing the Facilities programme including communicating and reporting progress internally and externally.
• Strategy: Develop Access Sport’s facilities strategy, guiding our growth into new sports and new cities.

3.   Person specification
We are seeking an “all-rounder”. A Landscape Architect who has a track record of delivering a project from “0 Strategic Definition” through to “6 Handover” and “7 Use”, as defined by The Landscape Institute Plan of Work.

Skills/ experience

Desirable

• Chartered Landscape Architect status.
• Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture or related field.

Essential

• Experience in all aspects of landscape design, including concept and detailed co-design, public consultations and engagement, planning and construction management.
• Experience of creating new and enhanced community facilities.
• Experience of Design and Drawing Skills: Producing technical drawings for streets and public spaces across multiple design stages (concept to detailed). Using design software including AutoCAD, SketchUp, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop or similar.
• Excellent communication and negotiating skills: Communicating with technical and non-technical audiences, through verbal, written, and visual means (digital and paper sketches, visualizations, diagrams) and presentations. Report writing (feasibility studies, option testing, technical notes). Building meaningful and collaborative relationships. Being able to negotiate and incorporate feedback from various parties.
• Creative Ability, Imagination, and Enthusiasm: A passion for creativity and innovative thinking is important for generating unique and inspiring design solutions.
• Concern for the Environment and Conservation Issues: An understanding of environmental principles and a commitment to sustainable landscape design practices are crucial for creating ecologically responsible and resilient landscapes.
• Landscape architecture outputs (planting specifications and schedules, drawings for blue and green areas, SUDS)
• Practical Outlook: While creativity is essential, a practical approach to design is equally important.
• Time Management and Organisation: The ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously is vital in a fast-paced work environment.
• Health and safety management, including CDM and environmental legislation.

Personal attributes

• A passion for Access Sport’s cause and empowering underrepresented children and young people to reach their full potential through sport.
• A reliable, committed, enthusiastic and motivated self-starter and problem solver with a can-do attitude.
• Innovative, entrepreneurial, and able to adapt to emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Reliable and hardworking with the confidence to use initiative and work independently with limited supervision.
• Proactive and adaptable – ability to think creatively and use initiative to achieve outcomes.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and communicate effectively.
• Committed to continuing personal and professional development.

In addition:

• The post holder must have the right to work in the UK.
• The post holder must be able to travel within the UK.
• The post holder may be expected to stay away for work purposes from time to time.

Flexibility

In order to work effectively in a changing environment, flexibility is required from the post-holder. Any other tasks that may be requested will be at the same level of responsibility and terms and conditions of employment. The role will require some travel for training delivery and to different Access Sport offices, as well as occasional unsocial hours including evenings and weekends in accordance with the demands of clubs and workshops.

Equal opportunities

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Access Sport is committed to creating an inclusive culture, through fostering a diverse workforce where everyone feels like they belong, differences are valued, and everyone can reach their potential. We are actively seeking to diversify and create a workplace that is welcoming for all, ensuring that our workforce is representative of wider society and the communities we support. If you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview stage, please contact us (details in section 6).

We offer disabled applicants the option of requesting that their application is considered under the terms of our Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS). If you wish to apply under our GIS, please indicate this in your cover email. For more information, please visit our Join the Team page.

Background checks

As this role may, at times, involve working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks which includes a criminal record check with the Disclosure and Barring Service and two references.

4.    Staff benefits
Access Sport is an exciting and dynamic place to work. We pride ourselves on being a close-knit and well supported team with a clear sense of purpose, delivering real impact. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to supporting the development of our team members and, should you wish, there are opportunities for team members to get involved in different aspects of the charity, from the delivery of our programmes on the ground, to fundraising, events and advocacy.

Staff benefits include:

• Employee Assistance Programme – Access to a 24/7 confidential helpline, counselling services and online information.
• Annual leave – 28 days annual leave (including 3 days between Christmas and New Year) plus 1 extra day of leave per year of service for the first 5 years. This equates to 33 days of annual leave after 5 years of continuous service. Plus 8 days paid public holidays.
• Healthy Living and Wellbeing Employer – We welcome staff to embed regular exercise into their daily work lives and have quarterly team away days.
• Volunteering/ personal development days – Two additional days of paid leave each year to volunteer for an Access Sport club or other charity, or to use as personal development days.
• Pension – 5% employer pension contribution.
• New Mums and Dads, including adoptive parents, can take enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Flexible working and family-friendly – Hybrid and flexible working arrangements which are family-friendly and provide flexibility around caring responsibilities.
• 24/7 GP service to provide employees with a phone or video appointment at a time and date that suits them.
• Cycle to Work scheme – Cycle to work scheme, saving up to 39% off a new bike and accessories.
• Group Life Assurance for all staff on payroll.

5.   How to apply
The closing date for applications is Sunday 2 March 2025.

To apply, please email Careers@AccessSport.org.uk and attach:

• A copy of your CV.
• A portfolio of work, demonstrating your experience of delivery from inception to completion.
• A covering letter that explains why you would like the role and demonstrates that you have the required skills, experience and personal attributes (no longer than 2 pages). Alternative formats are also welcomed e.g. video or audio.
• A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, which can be found here: www.AccessSport.org.uk/join-the-team.

Candidates who have been shortlisted for an interview will be notified w/c 3 March. The first interviews are currently due to take place w/c 10 March.

If you have any questions or would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please email Sue.Wheeler@AccessSport.org.uk or call 020 7993 9883.

Data protection

Access Sport CIO will only process and store your personal information, this means any information that identifies or could identify you, for the purposes of recruitment, after which it will be securely disposed.